As a Twins fan, I'm impressed to see some Yanks fans who are so dedicated to trying to keep the younh guys together. That is the Twins way of doing it ... that really is our only way of doing it. Yes, we have a rich owner, but he won't do anything for us. Trust me ... we've all cried about this for years.

With our limitations, we can't afford Santana (as much as we would like to keep him). I've warmed up to trading him. I'm excited about what we could get back.

Isn't this what the Yanks have done anyway? Develop players in their farm system just to deal with for star players? You guys traded prospects to us for Chuck K. in the 90's (and that trade is even still giving today ... in fact, it is even part of the Delmon Young deal ... for example, we traded Brian Buchanan to the Padres for Bartlett ... Bartlett was part of the Young deal earlier this week.)

I heard rumors last night the Red Sox were going to put in Ellsbury for Crisp in their offer. I'm sure the Yanks would add Kennedy. If the Yanks toss us Hughes, Kennedy, and Melky ... where do I sign??? Heck, I'd sign for what is on the table right now.

The way I see it, the Yanks need Santana and I'd rather trade him to the Yanks vs. the Red Sox. We'd just be screwing ourselves over and give the Red Sox title after title if they had Santana, Becket, Schillng, Dice K, and Wakefield. The Yanks need Santana to battle the Red Sox. We need to add Hughes to our staff and than work on developing Hughes, Liriano, Baker, Perkins, Slowey, Blackwell, Bonser, and so many other of our young and talented arms that will carry us into the new stadium.

The future is very exciting for the Twins. We just are at the point again where we're ready to rape another team of their up and coming talent again like we did to the Giants (AJ trade), Yankees (Knob trade), and so many other even smaller deals over the past few years that have helped us. We trade well ... it's what we do. When you deal with us, prepare to be molested. That's the way it is.

Hankenstein is apparently no different than the Old Man. Must have the biggest name out there, no matter what the cost in talent or dollars. This deal will make the Yankees better next year but may not put them over the top. In three years time, however, it will be seen as the mistake it is. I have only one wish for x-mas this year - that the Yankees somehow keep Phil Hughes.

I'm so sick of this being about the Yanks and the Sox. This should have nothing to do with what Boston may or may not do. This year the yanks got bounced by the Tribe bc of homegrown pitching, last year it was Det cuz of homegrown pitching (and Kenny), year before, it was the Angels, once again, home grown...

Having Johan would be great, but giving this much up, plus free agent dollars is totally pointless.

PS - Santana was winless against the Tribe last year, so it wouldn't have made much of a difference if we had him.

Besides losing future cy young award winner Phil Hughes, having to watch Damon in center and Matsui in left everday will cost us more runs than Santana could save us next year. Plus, in three years Phil Hughes will be better than Johan and making about 18 million less. I do not see in anyway how this trade makes sense in the short or long term. When Damon breaks down who is playing center, and who is going to prevent Matsui from misplaying ball after ball in left. I really am sick to my stomach right now. This could be one of the most disastorous trades in Yankee history. I am literally scared this might happen.

I remember back in 1994 or 1995 when the Yanks were trying to acquire a dominant left handed ace named Randy Johnson. Seattle's asking price Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and third base prospect Russ Davis. Good thing that fell apart.

Phil Hughes has as many playoff wins as Johan Santana, and Santana was winless against his division rival Indians this year. Also, Melky Cabrera improves the defense of the outfield and helps keep Robbie Cano in line. Itis going to cost too much money. We might be slightly better next year, but after that i believe we would be better of with whatever we are trying to trade.

hey ehaz, please tell me just who all these prospects are who are better then Phil. Melky and Rob feed off each other and I think those two need to stick together. All around this is just one of the bigger mistakes of the many that Brain Cashman has made.

have u looked at the run support for johan? im sure it would increase dramtically in NY, he had no run support thats why he lost to the tribe this yr, as for his playoff "failures" hes only ever given up 3 earned runs in the playoffs COMBINED

This is great. I'm a Twins fan and I always figured Yankee fans slept so soundly at night, knowing they could afford any player they wanted. But this? C'mon, Johan is only 28. That's 10 years younger than the rest of your team. Although Johan has been reluctant to throw his slider this past year... and he has been giving up far more homers. Not a warning or anything...just saying.

Its looking like Hughes isn't doing it for the Twins. They want Horne or Jackson as well. I say walk away and walk away fast, at a run if at all possible. Let Boston have him, let him stay in Minny until next offseason, just let Hughes, Joba and Kennedy (and Wang) win WS for the next decade.

Hughes is being a bit overrated, possibly because he's the first bonifide pitcher set to graduate from the Yankees in awhile. While he's ready for a ML roster now, there are concerns about his longevity given his mechanics:

It very well may be the case that by the time Hughes is eligable for free agency, his best years will allready be behind him and Santana with his excellent mechanics and durability will still be a far better pitcher than he.

Also, it's not about "fair value" as it is about "usefull value". You can't expect that throwing a bunch of pitching prospects at the most pitching-rich minor league organization in baseball is going to mean nearly as much as talking about good-hitting shortstops and outfielders. Hughes may be the most ML ready of any of the guys being talked about now, but he'd have to eliminate another decent-at-worst young pitcher from the Minnesota Rotation to crack it himself.

You also have to consider how the FA market this year will effect the further inflation of Santana's value. If you really want him, it'll cost you several good prospects and a 6-year 25million dollar contract this year. Given how thin the pitching is this offseason and that someone will start throwing 15million-per-year contracts at the likes of Carlos Silva et. al, next year he's likely a 30 million dollar pitcher due to rampant FA inflation. Signing him for 25 a year until he's 35 right now is a lot better proposition than signing him for 30 million until he's 36 or 38 is a lot better proposition.

I just wanted to tell you that you've become my newest favorite person ever. As soon as I heard the news they were willing to throw in Phil in the trade, I felt sick to my stomach. Every time I even think about baseball now, my stomach turns. And now they want my buddy Horne (woo, UF alum!) or Action Jackson too? The Twins can go screw themselves. I wouldn't even part with Phil straight up for Santana. If the Yankees do this I just might have to rethink my allegiance too, or boycott baseball next season. Keep Hughes!

Hey Steve Johnson. Hughes mechanics are textbook over the top which is more conducive to long term durability. The article you are citing is more concerned with his velocity which was in question after his return from the hamstring injury.

You are right about Minny having enough pitching. That's why they want hitters to compliment the Hughes package since they aren't as high on Cabrera as they are on someone like Ellsbury.

And why would the Yankees have to go out and pay 30 million dollars a year to sign Santana at age 36? That statement doesn't make any sense and has no bearing on the trade proposals at hand. There is no reason to assume that anybody will want either of these pitchers in 10 years.

Contrary to popular belief, I would be completely comfortable if this trade didn't happen. It's time for the Yankees to put their trust in the future. I was there for the only playoff game that the Yanks won this year; Hughes came in for the cripling Clemens and completely dominated. A new era is dawning; it's out with the old and in with the new. I'm very confident going into '08 with the power of Hughes and Joba, the sinkerballering of Wang, and the finesse of Kennedy, who reminds me of a modern day David Cone.

Please DO NOT let this happen Cashman. The only reason Hughe was not dominating last year is bc his injury forced his velocity to drop to about 91-92 as oppose to the 94-95 heat that he threw prior to the injury. This kid will be a perennial all star and its imperative that the Yankees keep him. I thought the yankees had learned from the past trade blunders and were FINALLY on the right track in building up the farm system. I will be very dissapointed if this happens

Whatever happened to this being Cashman's team? He gets full control for one year, builds up the system, proves that he has talented kids in the system who can make an impact, and then Hank comes in, starts flapping his gums and all hell is about to break lose. I'm very disappointed in what seems to be the "new" direction of this team.

Hey Steve Johnson. Hughes mechanics are textbook over the top which is more conducive to long term durability. The article you are citing is more concerned with his velocity which was in question after his return from the hamstring injury.

From the article, Hughes arm action is fine but his leg tempo is rather slow, indicating he'll have trouble maintaining velocity as he ages, and this article does predate his hamstring injury. he has excellent command but very well could be on a Barry Zito (who throws like 85mph now)-like career path, albiet with a bit better control.

To tell you the truth, I'd take him over Lester who doesn't strike me as anything particularily special.